The Dulwich Cheerleader

All posts filed under: Health & Fitness

A few times a week I’ll walk into work, taking the quieter roads and as much green space as I can. This is a wonderful way to start the day, and I find I have a better day when it begins peacefully like this rather than rushed or sitting in traffic. My commute is 50 minutes on foot, and by the time I arrive in the office, I’m feeling really energised. This is due to a few things, and in sharing them, I’m hoping you’ll review how you start your day and see if you can set yourself up for a great day with a few tweaks to your morning routine. Make exercise part of your commute If you can’t walk all the way to work, consider getting on the train a stop later or earlier, or even getting up early enough to have a quick walk round the park on your way to the station. A study found that a brisk 10-minute walk increases energy, plus the effect lasts for up to 2 hours! …

Warm up for winter with this fun 5-week introduction to the vibrant jazz dances of the 1920s-1940s. Learn how to dance the Big Apple, Charleston & Lindy Hop dance styles and be part of a fun, friendly and growing SE London Swing Dance scene. Build skills and confidence to dance in a group, on your own or with a partner to a range of jazz band music. During the course you will learn a brief history of the dance styles, basic footwork and steps, posture and co-ordination, and simple (but impressive!) routines. No partner needed. Beginners welcome. The course will be taught by local resident Wendy Steatham. Wendy is a professional dance artist whose career has included roles as a performer, choreographer, teacher and movement director. In 2011-2012 Wendy worked as Mass Movement Choreographer on all four Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. She co-led the audition and rehearsal process, training the cast for the Ceremonies and directing the large-scale cast rehearsals, including the NHS ‘Swing Out Sister’ sequence in Danny …

One of the most common mistakes people make with fitness is thinking they need an hour or more to exercise effectively. I want to introduce you to five ways you can exercise effectively without spending more than 30 minutes on a session – sometimes it could be as little as 15-20 minutes. Tabata or HIIT sessions Tabata is a high intensity type of interval workout based on 4 minutes in total – 20 seconds of high intensity exercise and 10 seconds rest. The idea is that you work very hard for 20 seconds and recover, except that the recovery periods feel less and less as the time goes on! With each tabata only lasting 4 minutes, you could do 3 of these in a workout with great effects. Interval sessions If you already have a running or jogging routine, this will be easy to add in. If you don’t, this is a great way to maximise the efficiency of your exercise session and make good progress in terms of cardiovascular fitness and speed. After warming up …

I was persuaded to try cold showers having listened to a podcast where the guest, (the renowned Dr Joseph Mercola) was discussing their benefits, specifically, cold thermogenesis. It seemed to me that the benefits of subjecting yourself to cold temperatures were too many and too compelling to ignore. Here are my top 5 reasons why cold showers are good for your health, and why you should start experimenting with cold therapy now. Brown fat activation Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a type of fat that is typically found around the collar bones, sternum, neck and upper back. It’s a unique type of fat that generates heat by burning the white fat on the stomach, rump, hips and legs. One study found that cold therapy increases the activation of BAT by up to 15 times. Individuals who are frequently exposed to bouts of cold temperatures tend to have more BAT, which can also cause metabolic up-regulation and an increased production of heat in skeletal muscle, which means you’ll be burning more calories as you go about …

Why is it that some people manage to transform their health and others don’t? I’ve worked with hundreds of clients over the last few years, and I’ve observed the differences between those who succeed and those who don’t. Here’s what you need to consider if you want to reach a successful outcome. You are fully invested Successful people know that in order to succeed, you need to invest, and I don’t just mean in time and money. Someone who has what it takes to transform their health will be fully invested emotionally, physically and intellectually and very focused on their desired outcome. You have patience Implementing lasting and sustainable changes is a slow game. Think a marathon not a 100m sprint. You need to be patient, and focused. Appreciating that things take time is essential to the outcome, and you won’t be in a rush. You trust the program Holding on to preconceived ideas and limiting beliefs damages the chances of success. Trust in the person you’ve hired to help you. Believe in the power …

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